Don Bosco: Spiritual Directorof Young People
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DON BOSCO: SPIRITUAL DIRECTOROF YOUNG PEOPLE By: Fr. W. L. Cornell S.D.B. Imprimatur: Fr. Lazaro Revilla, SDB, STL., Ph.D., Provincial Nihil Obstat: Fr. Jose Bernacer, SDB, STL., IC.L. Fr. Leo Drona, SDB, STL., MA, Vice-Provincial January 31, 1986 Copyright © 1986 by Salesiana Publishers, Inc. An rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, inc1uding photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permis sion in writing from the Publisher. ISBN 971·8532-05-6 Published and Printed by: SALESIANA PUBLISHERS, INC .. P.O. Box 838 MCPO Pasay Road cor. Pasong Tamo Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines PREFACE If, on reading the title of this book, you are expecting to find an exposition on how to give spiritual direction to young people, you are going to be disappointed. We will search in vain, among the writings of Saint John Bosco, for such a book. Yet this Saint stands out as one of the most remarkable spiritual directors of the young in the history of the Church. Facts bear out this statement --- it is not just an exaggerated manifestation of hero worship. Can we find, among his writings, how he ap proached this task of spiritual direction? Yeso This anthology has been put together for this very purpose and some indica tions of the riches contained have been given. A close and prayer ful reading will help the reader ta discover many more. Pope Paul VI could have been describing Don Bosco 's approach when he wrote in his Apostolic Exhortation EVANGELII NUNTIANDI in 1975: "Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses." (41). "The present century thirsts for authenticity. Especially in regard to young people it is said that they have a horror of the artificial or false and that they are searching above aU for truth and honesty ... The witness of life has become more than ever an essential condition for real effectiveness." (76) . You will find that Don Bosco was weIl aware of this. Much of the material contained in this book is biographical or auto biographical. It begins with extracts from his own Memoirs, of which Fr. ColIi writes: "It is interesting to note that the most important posthumous document which Don Bosco has left us to understand his spirit, his mission - vocation, is not a book of theory, an outline of spirituality, but a story." (Pedagogia Spirituale di Don Bosco e spirito salesiano page 18) Fr. W. L. Cornell S. D. B. v vi TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE v I. MEMOIRS OF THE ORATORY OF ST. FRANCIS OF SALES (Extracts) 1 II. THE COMPANION OF YOUTH 10 A. Means needed to lead a good catholic life 12 B. Means of perseverance 14 1. What should be the chief concern of the young. 14 2. What the young ought to avoid. 17 III. TIPS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE 18 IV. LETTERS TO THE YOUNG 20 v. THREE BIOGRAPHIES OF STUDENTS OF THE ORATORY 38 A. Biography of Dominic Savio 39 B. Biography of Michael Magone 111 c. Biography of Francis Besucco 157 VI. COMMON ELEMENTS OF SALESIAN SPIRITUALITY (As found in these primary sources) 231 vii viii I. MEMüIRS OF THE ORATORY OF SAINT FRANCIS OF SALES (1815a1855) Sorne Introductory Remarks When Don Bosco first visited Pope Pius IX in 1858 to obtain his support for the recognition of the Salesian Society, he began to talk about the Oratory at Valdocco-Turin, Among other things, he spoke of the many saintly boys under his care and made special mention of Dominic Savio who had asked him to mention a vision he had had concerning England. The Pope was intrigued by this rnessage and asked Don Bosco if he had ever experienced supernatural inspiration himself. Don Bosco hesitated but the Pope insisted and sa he began to speak of his extraordinary dreams, beginning with that fundamental dream when he was only nine years old, The Pope drew him out further and then advised him to write down his life story, saying: "Save all this as a legacy for your Cong-regation, sa that it may serve as an encouragement and norm for your sons." Don Bosco returned to ROlTIe in 1867 and the first question which Pius IX put ta him was: "Well, did you follow my advice? Did you write down those things which nad a bearing in ins piring you ta found your Society? " "Your Holiness," Don Bosco replied, "1 truthfully lacked the time. 1 was sa taken up with ... " "VVel1, then, I do not only . advise you, but COMrv1Ar~.JD you ta do it ...." Yet another nine years were ta go by until Don Bosco got down ta the task. He died befare he had time ta revise the draft and then only covered. the first forty years of his life. He also added that these Memoirs were nat to be published even after his death. In 1946 it was decided ta disobey this injunction and Fr. Ceria saw ta its publication. Influences on Don B08CO'S Spiritual Life and His Role as Spiritual Director Don Boscos loss of his father on the 12th May 1817 is "the very first thing that I can remember.. " 1 This fact forced Mamma Margaret to take over the dual roles of mother and father and this certainly influenced John. In his dealing with young people he learnt from his mother how to combine the loving, caring role of a mother with the firmness of a father. a) Education in the faith: "My mother's first concern was the instruction of her children in religion, teaching them obedience, and keeping them busy with activities that were right for their age. When 1 was a child, she taught me my prayers; and as soon as 1 was able to play with my brothers, she made me kneel with them morning and evening, to join all the others in reciting the prayers and the third part of the rosary. 1 still remember how she prepared me for my First Confession. She went to church with me, where she confessed before recommending me to the confessor, after my confession she helped me with my thanksgiving and con tinued to help me until 1 was able to make a good confession by myself." (MO 21-22) Herein lies the germs of the importance Don Bosco gave to peni tential catechesis and his willingness to spend hours and hours in the confessional righi up to the last months of his life. "The tribunal of penance was for him a place of repose and iov, and not of fatigue. " (BM III, 54) In the Apostolic Process for Don Bosco 's beatification, Fr. Michael Rua testified: "If Don Bosco was to give the 'Good Night' to the pupils of the salesian school on two consecutive nights one of them would be on confession, and if he could address them only once, unfailingly he would say something about it too .... " (BM X, 7) After relating that his mother made sure he went to the daily classes in preparation for his FIRST HOLY COMMUNION and how she supplemented this instruction by wise words of advice and encouragement, Don Bosco relates in his Memoirs her words af'ter the big event. "My dear son, this has been a great day for you. 1 am sure that God has truly taken possession of your heart. Now you must promise Him to do your best to remain good until the day you die. In the future, go frequently to Holy Communion and beware not ta commit sacrilege." (MO 33) 2 Again we can see the germs of Don Bosco 's emphasis on the centrality of the Eucharist in spiritual growth. b) The fundamental dream "At that age 1 had a dream that had a profound impression on my mind for all my life. 1 dreamed that 1 was near my home, in a very large playing field where a crowd of children were having fun. Sorne were laughing, others were playing and not a few were cursing. 1 was so shocked at their language that 1 jumped into their midst, swinging wildly and shouting at them to stop. At that moment a venerable man appeared on the scene, in full flower of his manhood, magnificently dressed. A white robe covered all of his body but his face shone so brightly that 1 could not really keep my gaze on it. He called me by name and told me to take charge of all those boys and gave the follow ing advice: 'Y ou will win the hearts and souls of these friends of yours not by the use of force but by kindness and gentle ness. Begin straightaway to teach them that sin is nasty and harmful and that the practice of virtue is such a beautiful thing.' Confused and afraid 1 replied that 1 was only a poor and igno rant boy, incapable of speaking about religion to aIl these boys. At that moment the fighting, shouting and cursing stopped and the crowd of boys gathered about that venerable man who was now talking. Almost unconsciously 1 asked: 'Who do you think you are, commanding the impossible?' 'Just because these things seem impossible, you must make them possible by your obedience and educating yourself.' 'And how am 1 going to find the means to educate myself?' 1 will give you a teacher under whose guidance you will become wise and without her guidance alllearning is useless.' 'But who are you, who speak to me like this?' '1 am the Son of her whom your mother has taught you to greet three times a day.